Vikings Kick Returner in 2020?

The way the Minnesota Vikings handled their special teams a season ago was baffling. They rotated punt and kick returners throughout mini-camps and the preseason. They also were unsettled at kicker and punter until just before the season started. They used multiple returners early in the season, before finally settling on one. Most teams decide who their kick returner will be early in the preseason, so that the player can take the majority of reps in practice. Hopefully, the Vikings learned from last year’s debacle and will name their returner early this preseason once it gets going.

Abdullah and Osborn aren’t the only two players on the Vikings’ roster who have experience returning kicks. Veterans like Mike Hughes, Chad Beebe, Dillon Mitchell and Holton Hill have all done it at times in their careers. Hughes and Hill are too valuable on defense to risk getting injured returning kicks, and Beebe and Mitchell are both long shots to make the final roster, as they are buried on what is suddenly a receiving corps loaded with competition.

The Vikings could look to some other rookies if neither Abdullah or Osborn can emerge in camp. A few youngsters who have returner experience are Brian Cole and undrafted running back Tony Brooks-James. Cole had 16 returns in college for 329 yards with an average just below 21 yards. Brooks-James is actually the most experienced of all the young returners, having returned 44 kicks during his collegiate career, averaging 23.8 yards per return with one touchdown. While both may get a few attempts at returning in camp, they may be shooting for a practice squad spot at best. While it’s reassuring to have plenty of options, the Vikings will likely look to Abdullah or Osborn to be the primary return man and have Hughes and Hill as emergency options if either were to get hurt.